It is bayram again. The Festival of the Sacrifice - we are celebrating and remembering how God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of his son. Across the country, families and communities buy a ram, or sheep, or goat, or bull, or cow - to cut on the first day of bayram. Three legs are tied, a prayer is said, and the animal is cut. It is then butchered and a third of the meat is kept for your family, a third of the meat is given to your relatives, and a third of the meat is given to the poor.
Tolga's brother bought a sheep for bayram to cut. His dad wanted us to get one, but I couldn't support the tradition. I thought Tolga's gentle family couldn't support it either, but they were all feeling as if we should to give thanks to God for our sons - a heartfelt gesture, I guess.
I still refused. I'd rather go around on bayram and free the poor sheep. A butcher comes around and cuts the animal for the family. The news at night is filled with butcher's in the emergency rooms - having cut their hands in stead. The animals must sense the danger of this time of year because the news is also filled with escapees - bulls running down highways and charging cars.
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